the jester's pub

Learning Who We Are

 

 “At the core of my faith belongs the conviction that we are the beloved sons and daughters of God. And one of the enormous spiritual tasks we have is to claim that and to live a life based on that knowledge. And that’s not very easy. In fact most of us fail constantly to claim the truth of who we are.” – Henri Nouwen

That Cheesy TV Drama Song

This is very funny, enjoy! My favorite part is "Everyone cries when a man hugs!"

Crazy Like Him

 
 “If the world is sane, then Jesus is mad as a hatter and the last supper is the Mad Tea Party. The world says, mind your own business, and Jesus says, there is no such thing as your own business. The world says follow the wisest course and be a success, and Jesus says, follow me and be crucified. The world says, save your life. Jesus says lose your life. The world says, you get what you deserve, Jesus says Grace. The world says get. Jesus  says give. In terms of the world’s sanity, Jesus is crazy as a coot, and anybody who thinks he can follow him without being a little crazy too is laboring less under a cross than under a delusion” –Frederick Buechner

Quit trying to live right side up in an upside down kingdom!

The Vampire Has Left the Building

 
 Don't know if you caught the story over the weekend of Anne Rice, the acclaimed author of various vampire novels who years ago came back to her Catholic faith and began writing Christian books over recent years, leaving behind CHRISTIANITY but not her faith in Christ. She posted the following paragraph on her facebook page.

"For those who care, and I understand if you don’t: Today I quit being a Christian. I’m out. I remain committed to Christ as always but not to being “Christian” or to being part of Christianity. It’s simply impossible for me to “belong” to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group. For ten years, I’ve tried. I’ve failed. I’m an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else." 

Following the post a few hours after with:

“As I said below, I quit being a Christian. I’m out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.”

She reaffirmed her faith in Christ with a lack of faith in Christianity an hour or so later with the following post

"My faith in Christ is central to my life. My conversion from a pessimistic atheist lost in a world I didn't understand, to an optimistic believer in a universe created and sustained by a loving God is crucial to me. But following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been, or might become."

There is much to discuss in this post and I don't know what the events were that triggered this response over the last ten years. There are areas in her post that I agree with and others that I find puzzling or more importantly wish that she would not give up on the church but work to be a voice within it. Getting mad and leaving isn't going to help anything get any better. 

Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Mark

Where Orphans Dance

So I have decided to return to blogging after a seven month absence. For all those who read this blog faithfully and wondered where I went, I apologize. I have no good answer why I stopped, I just did. My recent trip to Haiti was what "shook" me back to a place where I feel like I have something to say.

Last week I joined a group of people from all over the United States for a week in Port-Au-Prince with the mission organization AIM (Adventures in Mission). I have been on many mission trips over the years (maybe with you) to Mexico and inner city and rural areas in the USA but this one was different in many ways. It not only shocked me but inspired me in new ways.

It would be easy to spend this blog post talking about the devastation that I saw in Haiti, there was plenty of it even six months after the quake. I could talk about the poverty, the deep poverty I saw, poverty unlike I have seen and smelt before. It is tangible and in your face in Haiti. Those were two very poignant realities in your vision each moment in Haiti.

But what I want to talk about is DANCING. Sound strange? Let me explain. One of the days on our trip we stopped by an orphanage that housed over 100 orphans, it is called Sons of God orphanage. These are children who not only survived a quake, survive poverty daily but also survive without parents. It would be hard to imagine people with harder lives than these children. Children living in a impoverished, devastated city and doing it all without parental or family support.

Our team went there to simply see the ministry and watch another team that was there. Well it is impossible to just watch! Our team jumped in by holding kids, taking pictures with them, coloring with them and whatever else. 

For some reason I found myself sitting back and just watching, watching with wonder all that was going on around me. One of the things I saw was JOY. There were smiles, laughter and play here in the midst of what could be a place filled with sorrow.

Then a holy moment arrived.

The other team there started a circle game where they sing a song, clap and one person in the middle pulls another into the circle to dance. The picture above is one taken during this event. I was sitting on a bench outside the circle watching this scene of merriment. Old dancing with young, white with black, orphans with missionaries and Americans with Haitians, It was a beautiful joyful scene.

 It was a picture of God's Kingdom. My father who was on the trip even danced! (Now that is a miracle and God's sense of humor!)

Then it hit me, a beautiful thought, and it brought tears to my eyes. The thought was: "The Kingdom of God is where orphans dance."

Wherever the Kingdom of God is, there is DANCING, even amongst orphans, those with no family and 1,000 reasons to live in despair can find hope and a reason to dance. When Kingdom people enter into places of despair the response is DANCING! The Kingdom of God brings new life and renews all things and the response is dancing, laughter and joy.

The same is true for all of us who know Christ. The scripture assures us that we were once orphans, lost, alone and fatherless until He came and claimed us as his own. He adopted us. He gave us a home. He called our name. Gave us a new name, His name.

If you know that truth, when is the last time it caused you to DANCE?

 

When a Song Becomes Something So Much More

 
This is amazing. Carlos Whitaker who is an artist and worship leader was shooting a video for his song "God of Second Chances" when a homeless man named Danny started to join in. It will move you to tears. We must always remember that He is a God of second chances and that He loves all of us more than we could ever know. This video reminds us how beautiful grace really is.

Mark

Back to the Future for Youth Specialties

 Many of you who read this blog know that I have worked for the last six years as part of the CORE/YS ONEDAY TEAM. If you read this blog you also know that one of the people at YS that has had a major influence on my life and the lives of so many youth workers is Tic Long. Tic was the President of Events at YS and was with the company for over 30 years. AMAZING! Tic was sadly let go this past Summer by Zondervan who was the owner of YS up until recently when YS was bought by YOUTHWORKS. Many youth workers around the country were shocked and saddened by that development and didn't quite understand what was going on. I was one of them. It was like the youth ministry world was losing something that it could always rely on.

Well Amazing news everyone! TIC IS BACK!! IT'S OFFICIAL. TIC IS BACK! TIc Long has been brought back by Youth Works to lead Youth Specialties. It feels like things have been put right in the youth ministry world. Those of you who were there in Atlanta at the NYWC this year for the announcement that Youth Works was buying YS were surely wondering what was going to become of YS, I know I was.

So what does this all mean? It does mean it's a new day for Youth Specialties, while at the same time maintaining a connection with the original vision and passion of YS. It means the company that you have trusted for so many years to provide you with quality training and has an uncanny way of knowing what was going on in your world as a youth pastor is still alive and well! Obviously all of that is not just because Tic Long is back, but is due to all that Youth Specialties is and has been over the last 40+ years. I think for me the bottom line is TRUST. YS earned my trust many years ago when I was a young youth pastor. Years later when I got the privilege to see "behind the scenes" of YS on a regular basis and be a part of the team, what I found were people that grew that trust even more, people like Marko and Tic. It has been my privilege to work with Tic and I am excited to see what new things he has planned for YS. 

So it's a new/old beginning in the youth ministry world. One thing I know for sure is that YS is being led by a man who loves youth workers with everything that he is. Do you really need to know more?

I hope you will join me in praying for the future of YS, for Tic Long and for all that YS is going to become. I also pray that you support them with your attendance at the NYWC in 2010.

The Future is So Bright I've Gotta Wear Shades!

Mark

P.S.

Here is one of my favorite pics with Tic, Marko and Brock Morgan the day of last year's AFC playoff game between the Chargers and Steelers. Of course Pittsburgh won!

 

Clive Staples Goodness

 "This is the terrible fix we are in. If the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness, then all our efforts are in the long run hopeless. But if it is, then we are making ourselves enemies to that goodness every day, and are not in the least likely to do any better tomorrow, and so our case is hopeless again....God is the only comfort, He is also the supreme terror: the thing we most need and the thing we most want to hide from." -Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Thin Places

 The Celtic Christians believed there were "Thin Places" where the veil between God and Man became "Thin". Where the glory of God and His realm shone through. I have to agree.

 

 

Einstein is Cool

Albert Einstein was not a Jesus follower but this little video is awesome. 

Just LIke That!

Funny stuff! Love to all you youth pastors out there!

The Outcasts

I recently finished reading the book, In the Sanctuary of Outcasts, by Neil White. It is the story of a New Orleans socialite who goes to prison for bank fraud. He is sentenced to a year in Carville minimum security prison in Carville, LA. What is unique about this prison is it is also home to hundreds of leper patients. Carville prison was also the United States last leprosarium at the time(It is no longer open). It is a story of one man's redemption through the outcasts and how these leper patients change his life. Originally repulsed by them and afraid he would catch the disease from them he moves to a place of love for these people, and is transformed by their care for him.

He goes to church with these people, takes communion with them, and sees God's love through them. One of the poignant moments in the book is when he shares about a leper patient who is in church and is reading a braille bible with his tongue because he is blind and has no feeling left in his hands. That convicted me.

Isn't it amazing how God speaks through the outcasts of society, confronts our insecurities through them, and shows us our own weaknesses through them. Jesus calls us to them, challenges us to enter their reality and I truly believe it is as much for our benefit as it is for theirs. We are transformed through their pain, and I think in them we are reminded about our own frailty, our own lostness, our own brokenness and the hope for all things to be made new.

Here is a video promoting the book:

True Power

"When the church tries to embody the rule of God in the forms of earthly power it may achieve that power, but it is no longer a sign of the Kingdom. But when it goes the way the Master went, unmasking and challenging the powers of darkness and bearing in its own life the cost of their onslaught, then there are given to the Church signs of the Kingdom, powers of healing and blessing which, to eyes of faith, are recognizable as true signs that Jesus reigns. All of this is portrayed in the New Testament as forming the substance of the mission to the nations. The mission is an expression of the authority Jesus has on earth and in heaven as he sits at God's right hand. It is manifest in the powers which the presence of the Spirit confers on the church so that it becomes-both in it's words and deeds--a witness to the reign of Jesus. And mighty works are promised as part of the fulfillment of the mission." -Leslie Newbigin

I have often wondered why the church so often strives to gain political power or any other type of earthly power, Jesus never did. Think about how the church has seen it's mission accomplished in the past under hostile conditions.

Early Christians vs. the Roman Empire

Modern Christians vs. Communist China

Just a few examples of the church with no "power" but relying on God and He did amazing things.

Do we trust Him to do the same now?

Hall of Fame Character

Rod Woodson was one of the most amazing cornerbacks and safeties that ever played in the NFL and for the Pittsburgh Steelers. My wife also taught all of his kids how to swim and babysat them, so we have a personal connection to Rod. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame tonight and his speech was awesome. He was bold about his faith, here are some excerpts:

"But first I want to thank my lord, Jesus Christ. He's my savior. He died for my sins and my salvation, and really without him I would not be here. He believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. I mean, I lived in this world for a long time, and I truly thank him for guiding me for so long, and keeping me safe even when I didn't realize it was him. I really thank him. And without his mercy, without his love, and without his compassion for me as a person, as a human being, as one of his children, I wouldn't be here. So I say, thank you Jesus."

"So I will leave you today to talk about choices or choice. Remember to choose or the choices you make in our lives will build our destinies that we make. Choices made throughout our lives were also determine our destiny. Matthew 22:14, many are called, few are chosen. God has given us a gift to choose. It's a power that we normally don't talk about. I leave you today with these thoughts. Choose. Choose to love rather than hate. Choose to create rather than to destroy. Choose to persevere rather than quit. Choose to praise rather than gossip. Choose to heal rather than wound. Choose to pray, rather than curse. Choose to live, rather than die. Choose Jesus Christ over the world. God bless you."

Finding My Way

I have always struggled with prayer. It is my constant battle, one I lose often. Tomorrow I have to preach on prayer and I am nervous because I want to say what is in my heart and hope that others benefit from it. Here are some quotes from the message from C.S. Lewis' struggle with prayer:

“Often when I pray, I wonder if I am not posting letters to a non-existent address.” –C.S.Lewis

"Where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms. When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him, so happy that you are tempted to feel His claims upon you as an interruption, if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be—or so it feels—welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is in vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and the sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that silence. You may as well turn away. The longer you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become. There are no lights in the windows. It might be an empty house.

Was it even inhabited? It seemed so once. And that seeming was as strong as this. What can this mean? Why is He so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?"  

C.S.-Lewis “A Grief Observed